The Girl from Cotton Lane (48 page)

Joe thought about the letter he had received from Carrie in the autumn of last year, the one he had now in his coat pocket. It was the only one he had saved and as the train clattered on he thought of the pretty woman with the long fair hair and the pale blue eyes that he remembered so well. He had been shocked to hear of Fred’s death, and the selling of the cafe. The fact that Carrie had gone into the cartage business did not surprise him very much, however. She had always loved horses, and her father would be a great help in looking after them and putting her straight on many aspects of the business. Inside the letter Joe had found a photo of Carrie and Rachel standing together beside a team of horses, and he had been taken by how much alike the two were. Rachel had her mother’s long fair hair and finely moulded features and she was almost as tall as Carrie. They were both smiling, and Joe remembered the first time Carrie smiled at him when they met in the little pub off the Tower Bridge Road. It had been the first of several meetings and the first day that they had made love. What would the future hold for him now? he thought anxiously. His business had closed down and all he had to show for his endeavours, now that he had given Billy Sullivan the piece of land, were two hundred pounds in the bank. He was forty-five, footloose, and he had spent a number of years in prison.

The train rattled on and Joe closed his eyes, feigning sleep as he tried to concentrate his mind on his future plans. He would have to bury a lot of the past first, he realised. He had become obsessed with seeking revenge for his family and had made many enemies along the way. He had traded dishonestly and become involved with unscrupulous people, and when his guard was down his enemies had exacted their own revenge. He had gone in over his head trying to fight powerful people and they had seen to it that their interests were protected. Gerry Macedo had been their envoy, and he had met a violent end. Frank Fuller had been prepared to stand up in court and testify to their involvement with Ronald James and the pressure they had exerted on him, which had ultimately caused the wharfinger to take his own life, and Fuller too had met a violent end. Those same powerful people had set Joe up and he had been unable to do anything to prevent himself going to prison. He had not known of Fuller’s demise before the trial, and when he asked for the ex-soldier to be brought to the stand it was terrible to be told that, even if the man had been able to attend, there was no evidence available, no documents, no collaborated testimony which would implicate Eastern Enterprises in any way. The case against him was one of receiving, and the only person who could have testified that the produce in question had been obtained in good faith seemed to have vanished. Joe felt certain that the agent had most likely been in the pay of Eastern Enterprises and had met the same fate as Macedo and Fuller. He would never know. Perhaps Martin Butterfield, the lawyer who looked after the company’s interests, did not know either. Only the shadowy, faceless people whose names appeared on company letter headings would know, and they were beyond the reach of the law.

The train pulled into Paddington Station on time and Joe Maitland walked from the platform with the brown paper bundle tucked under his arm. His first desire was to see Carrie once more before looking for lodgings, though he needed a bath too, and a change of clothing. The hustle and bustle of the station made him feel jumpy and he hurried from the concourse and hailed a cab. The journey across London after the long train journey left him jaded, and when the cab pulled up on the south side of Tower Bridge he was glad to get out and stretch his legs. He wanted to walk the short distance to Carrie’s yard to get the feel once more of the area he knew so well.

Carrie had just finished making up the carmen’s pay packets when Joe walked into the yard and tapped on the office window. Her eyes lit up and as he stepped into the office she threw herself into his arms. ‘I knew yer was comin’ terday but I didn’t know what time!’ she said excitedly, looking him over closely. ‘Yer look a bit pale, an’ yer’ve lost some weight.’

‘They didn’t set out ter fatten me up,’ he said smiling. ‘I’m feelin’ all right though, but I could do wiv a bath an’ I need anuvver suit. This one’s a bit moth-eaten.’

‘Come an’ say ’ello ter Dad, Joe,’ she told him, taking his arm. ‘’E’ll be so pleased ter see yer.’

Joe’s face became serious. ‘I was very sorry to ’ear about Fred,’ he said, turning to her. ‘I was shocked when I got yer letter.’

Carrie looked into his large brown eyes. ‘It was sudden,’ she said quietly. ‘I got to the ’ospital just in time. ’E was in no pain. ’E went off in ’is sleep at the end.’

As Joe crossed the yard with Carrie, William came to the door and beamed widely. ‘Yer look well, Joe, considerin’,’ he said, pumping the younger man’s hand in a strong grasp.

‘Yer look very well yerself. ’Ow’s Nellie?’ Joe asked.

‘She’s fine. Come an’ see ’er, she’s boilin’ a kettle.’

The Tanners and their daughter Carrie sat with Joe in the little parlour sipping tea. ‘Danny’s two boys are gettin’ big an’ Billy Sullivan’s married wiv three kids now,’ Nellie told him eagerly.

‘Yeah, I know,’ he laughed. ‘Carrie kept me supplied wiv all the news.’

‘Galloway left Page Street. ’E’s got a big yard now in Wilson Street,’ Nellie went on, to Joe’s amusement and William’s irritation.

‘Joe’s jus’ told yer that Carrie’s bin keepin’ ’im up wiv the news, Nellie. Go an’ put the kettle on again,’ William urged her.

Nellie had noticed the way Carrie looked at Joe and she felt sure that there had been something going on between them. ‘What’s yer plans, Joe?’ she asked, ignoring her husband.

Joe looked quickly at Carrie and then he stared down at his empty cup for a few moments. ‘I gotta get some lodgin’s an’ then I’ll decide what I’m gonna do,’ he told her. ‘I might go back ter Stepney. It’s bin a long while but I’ve still got a few good mates over the water.’

Nellie saw the glance Carrie had given Joe and the disappointment on her face, and she knew then that she had been right. ‘I’ll put the kettle on,’ she said quickly.

‘There’s no need ter rush orf, Joe,’ William remarked, glancing quickly at his daughter. ‘Carrie can fix yer up in ’er spare room. Yer can ’ave a bath in front o’ the fire an’ I’ve got a shirt yer can borrer fer the time bein’.’

Carrie felt that she could have kissed her father. ‘P’raps Joe would sooner not,’ she cut in, hoping she had said the right thing.

‘As long as Carrie don’t mind,’ Joe replied.

‘Of course I don’t,’ she said, trying not to sound too enthusiastic.

‘Right, that settles it then. I’ll go an’ light the copper. It’ll take a good couple of hours,’ William said, giving Carrie a glance which spoke volumes.

Billy Sullivan sat in the Kings Arms with Danny Tanner, his face grimy from the day’s toil. ‘I’m worried, Danny,’ he said, sipping his pint. ‘They’ve told us when this job’s finished there’s no more work. If it don’t pick up we’ll all be laid orf.’

‘Fings are bad on the river too,’ Danny replied, looking gloomily around at the few customers standing at the bar. ‘There’s no new ships in. I’ve only ’ad two days’ work this week.’

Billy leaned back in his chair and followed Danny’s gaze. ‘I’ve seen this pub a lot more busy than this, Danny boy. I reckon everybody round ’ere’s on short time.’

‘’Ow’s the site goin’?’ Danny asked, picking up his pint again.

Billy’s face brightened. ‘We’ve got the foundations down an’ the bricks are comin’ next week,’ he said. ‘I’ve gotta get some volunteers ter get ’em stacked. Farvver Murphy’s gonna see what ’e can do but we’ll need plenty of ’ands.’

Danny had noticed Wally Walburton walk in accompanied by his long-time friend Tubby Abrahms. The two had gone up to the bar and they glanced over at Billy, who had not seen them.

‘When’s the bricks comin’?’ Danny asked, trying to keep his friend’s attention.

‘Next Tuesday,’ Billy replied. ‘Farvver Murphy persuaded ’em ter leave it till as late as possible. We can get more volunteers that way. Mind yer though, the way fings are goin’ we’ll ’ave no trouble. ’Alf the people round ’ere’ll be ’angin’ around on the street corners the way the work’s goin’.’

Wally Walburton sidled over with Tubby Abrahms following behind. ‘I see the foundations are down,’ he said, slipping his thumbs into his braces. ‘Tubby was tellin’ me yer bin recruitin’ volunteers.’

Billy did not look at him. ‘That’s right,’ he said abruptly.

‘Who yer got, the church choir?’ Wally said sarcastically.

Billy looked up at the bulky young man. ‘Well, they’d be a sight better than you two,’ he growled. ‘I would ’ave asked yer both ter give us an ’and but yer wouldn’t last five minutes. It’s ’ard work unloadin’ bricks.’

‘I’d stan’ the pace better than anybody you could put up,’ Tubby cut in.

‘I doubt it,’ Billy replied, grinning at Danny.

‘I tell yer what we’ll do,’ Wally said quickly. ‘Me an’ Tubby against any two you can put up. Loser stands a round o’ drinks.’

‘Righto, Wally, yer on,’ Billy said, holding out his hand.

Once the yard had been bolted up for the night Carrie placed the large tin bath in front of the banked-up fire. Joe passed back and forth from the scullery with pails of steaming hot water, and at last the bath was ready. He glanced at Carrie as he unbuttoned his shirt and she averted her eyes. ‘While yer ’avin’ yer bath I’ll cook some eggs an’ bacon,’ she said quickly. ‘I’ve put a clean towel on the chair wiv the soap. I’ll give yer a shout when the tea’s ready.’

‘Will yer scrub me back?’ he asked.

‘Call me when yer’ve got in,’ she said, feeling her face getting hot under his gaze.

Joe smiled as he peeled off his shirt and when Carrie had left the room he stripped and climbed into the bath. The water was soothingly hot and after a few minutes soaking he stood up and soaped himself all over with Lifebuoy, revelling in the luxury of an unhurried bath. When he had sat down in the water once more he called out to Carrie, and as she came into the room he could see that she was aroused. Her face was flushed and she had let her long fair hair down and tied it with a black ribbon. He could see quite clearly too that she had removed her bodice and he noticed that her small firm breasts were taut, with her nipples standing out against the fabric. She came over to him and without saying a word took the soap from his hand and gently rubbed it over his back. He could hear her breathing and he felt the gentle rubbing becoming more like a caress. He turned his head towards her and she suddenly leaned over him and put her lips against his. He reached his arm round and pulled her down to him and she slipped sideways into the bath, her dress riding up around her thighs. Their kiss was long and sensuous, her tongue searching his, her breath coming fast, and he could feel her hands seeking him beneath the soapy water.

Suddenly she brought her legs down on the floor and pulled herself from the bath, still holding on to one of his hands, urging him up. Joe rose from the water and stepped out of the bath, grasping her and pulling her to him. Carrie felt his kisses on her neck and throat, her face and open lips. She moved away from him, deliberately pressing his hands against the front of her sopping blouse. He slowly undid each button, his eyes never leaving hers, and then he reached down to her long, slender skirt. As it dropped to the floor Joe saw she was completely naked. Carrie closed her eyes as she lowered herself backwards across the table, her feet still resting on the floor. He leaned over her, his mouth going down to her nipples, and then she sighed deeply and gave a little groan as she felt him enter her. All the waiting, all the long, lonely and empty nights were forgotten as she moved with him, together in a fantasy of love.

Father Murphy had been very busy organising the charity committee and to the whole family’s delight the charity came to be known simply as ‘Sullivans’. The ageing priest had contacted the brick company in Bedford and on Tuesday at four o’clock the first supply of bricks arrived in Wilson Street. Billy had been put off work that Monday and on Tuesday Danny had finished early. Both men had stood waiting on the corner of Wilson Street since early afternoon and later they were joined by two hefty young men whom Father Murphy had conscripted. It was not long before Wally and his friend Tubby turned up. When the lorry drove into the site and squealed to a halt Wally took off his coat despite the cold and rolled up his shirt sleeves, exposing his muscular arms. Tubby took off his coat too and stood shivering beside the lorry while the driver lowered the sides of the vehicle.